Waconda Lake
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Waconda Lake Fishing Reports
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Reports from all past years within a 60-day time frame
Species
CrappieSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Finesse Jigs
Structure
Boulders
Water Temperature
68°
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Summer
Technique
Shakey Heads
Structure
Rock Pile
Water Temperature
70°
Shakey heads and wacky rigs good against the dam and on rocky flats with matted grass. Fishing 4 - 8ft deep but need deeper water nearby. Fishing all baits slow. Early action on squarebills
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Post-Spawn)
Technique
Ned Rigs
Structure
Boulders
Forage
Crawfish
Water Temperature
76°
Smallmouth very active in water less than three feet deep on or near any rock. Used Z-man mudbug color in the TRD bait Just cast and retrieve. Many fish in one school around three pounds. Fish biting better under cloud cover.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Summer
Technique
Swim Jigs
Structure
Points
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
78°
Smallmouth are scattered along rocky banks and points. They are feeding heavily on newly hatched shad which are no bigger than 1/2”. Using smaller swim baits on 1/8 ounce heads working well. Small plastic bodies most resemble the shad hatch. Moving slowly and thoroughly fishing rocky areas working best right now. Fish are mostly 12-14” right now. Smaller ones mixed in.
Species
WalleyeSeason
Summer
Technique
Hard Jerkbaits
Structure
Rock Pile
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
76°
Found walleye today in 6-9’ of water around flooded foundations in west half of lake. Foundations are made of rock. Threw deeper diving jerkbaits to catch fish. Long casts with fairly slow jerking action. Walleye we’re 12-19” in length and we’re really slamming the baits.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Summer
Technique
Topwater Walking
Structure
Boulders
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
77°
Smallmouth bass are concentrated around newly flooded rock—-2’ or less water in most cases. Top water baits working well during most times of the day even on a hot day like today. Look for more rocky spots to flood if water rises a bit more.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Summer
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
Boulders
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
82°
A tougher bite right now due to all the shad in the lake. I have never seen so many!! Caught several nice smallies slow retrieving a swim bait in 8-15’ of water off deeper rock structure. If you feel weight, set the hook! Lack of wind, which has been the case lately, makes the bite slower. If we get some wind, fishing will be better.
Species
White BassSeason
Summer
Technique
Crankbaits 7'-12'
Structure
Open Water/Basin
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
82°
Was watching the gulls as they quickly help spot white bass feeding on surface—eating shad, which must number in the millions right now. I caught many nice whites throwing a medium diving crankbait. Good hookup rate with all the hooks!! Early morning is good to find feeding schools of whites. Didn’t fish the evening but that time of day likely good too.
